I do not know why, but these things bother me when I read them. I am not just talking about text messages on cellular phones — I understand that the medium itself is scarcely conducive to good writing (although I authorize anyone to slap me if they ever receive a text message from me containing any of the grammar mistakes or misspells listed below). I am talking about electronic mail messages, letters, blog posts, scientific preprints, CVs, internal departmental memos, and other (semi)official documents which eventually become part of public record.

“Why should I publish in PRX?” We have heard this question often, and with the inaugural issue of PRX about to close, we have our first concrete answers.”

As I read this first line of the e-mail message, the thought goes through my mind “Well, I am interested in hearing these answers, because, frankly, I am still trying to understand what purpose this journal is meant to serve. If it should fill a hole in the current APS journal landscape, it must not have been a very noticeable one, because the last thing which I thought that APS needed at this time, was another journal.
But, hey, what do I know ? Let’s see what they have to say.”

All right, it has been a while since last time I did this kind of stuff. I saw it at VWXYNOT? (where else, eh ?), who got it through Drugmonkey via WhizBang!
I figured I would give it a shot too — it is Summer after all (almost), so blogging is slow. So, here we go:

I’m pleased to announce to you that your blog Exponential Book; just entered at number 207 in Wikio Sciences top blog ranking.
Wikio is an information portal with a news search engine that searches press sites and blogs.
As you are now part of Wikio’s ranked blogs , we offer you the opportunity to set up a badge , which is automatically updated each month (the 5th), that displays your blog’s position in your Top Blog category. The badge is the simplest way for your readers and yourself to follow your blog’s evolution.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me if you have any questions or if you want me to send your badge’s HTML code directly via email.
Have a nice day,